Moving to Sri Lanka from Benin

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What to Expect

Everything you need to know before relocating from Benin to Sri Lanka — costs, safety, healthcare, and practical first steps.

If you moved from Benin to Sri Lanka, and you’d need to navigate life in Sinhala and Tamil. You’ll also switch from driving on the right to the left.

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Key Indicator Comparison

Key indicators for anyone considering a move from Benin to Sri Lanka.

Is it safe?

Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

BJ
24.8
LK
11.5

Sri Lanka performs significantly better than Benin across all safety metrics.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2023

annual government + private spending per person

BJ
$138
LK
$507
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

affects wait times and access to care

BJ
2.0
LK
11.9

Sri Lanka generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Benin leads in healthcare spending per person.

What about the environment?

Air pollution deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2019

deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people

BJ
77.0
LK
37.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

BJ
0.5t
LK
1.1t

Benin generally does better on environment, though Sri Lanka leads in air pollution deaths.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

BJ
0.2
LK
10.1
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

BJ
1.0%
LK
90.8%

Sri Lanka generally does better on infrastructure, though Benin leads in water stress level.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

BJ
1.4%
LK
6.4%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

BJ
$3,800
LK
$13,000

Sri Lanka generally does better on employment & economy, though Benin leads in unemployment rate.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

BJ
62.2 yrs
LK
77.5 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

BJ
55.8
LK
8.2

Sri Lanka generally does better on family life, though Benin leads in education spending.

Data: The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Porto-novo Rain: 47.0 in/yr (1194 mm)
None° / None°F

Avg. annual high / low

Colombo Rain: 99.4 in/yr (2524 mm)
87° / 75°F

Avg. annual high / low

Months Porto-novo Colombo
Jan–Mar 88°/73°F (31°/23°C)
Apr–Jun 88°/77°F (31°/25°C)
Jul–Sep 86°/77°F (30°/25°C)
Oct–Dec 86°/74°F (30°/23°C)
View all months
Month Porto-novo Colombo
Jan 88°/72°F (30.9°/22.3°C)
Feb 88°/73°F (31.2°/22.6°C)
Mar 89°/75°F (31.7°/23.7°C)
Apr 89°/76°F (31.8°/24.6°C)
May 88°/78°F (31.1°/25.5°C)
Jun 87°/78°F (30.4°/25.5°C)
Jul 86°/77°F (30.0°/25.2°C)
Aug 86°/77°F (30.0°/25.1°C)
Sep 86°/77°F (30.2°/24.8°C)
Oct 86°/75°F (30.0°/24.0°C)
Nov 86°/74°F (30.1°/23.2°C)
Dec 87°/73°F (30.3°/22.8°C)

Data: Agence Nationale de la Meteorologie (METEO BENIN) Agence Nationale de la Meteorologie (METEO BENIN), National Meteorological Centre National Meteorological Centre

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between Benin and Sri Lanka. To live, work, or study long-term in Sri Lanka, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check Sri Lanka's immigration authority.

Benin passport

Benin passport holder visiting Sri Lanka

Electronic Travel Authorisation
Benin passport holders need an electronic travel authorisation (ETA) to enter Sri Lanka.
Sri Lanka passport

Sri Lanka passport holder visiting Benin

Visa Online (e-Visa)
Sri Lanka passport holders need to apply for an e-Visa before travelling to Benin.

Data: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I work remotely from Sri Lanka?

Internet is rarely the blocker — Sri Lanka has 10.1 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people. The real questions are legal: digital nomad visa eligibility, your employer's overseas-work policy, and tax residency in both countries.

Is Sri Lanka safe for expats?

Sri Lanka performs significantly better than Benin across all safety metrics.

How is healthcare in Sri Lanka compared to Benin?

Sri Lanka generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Benin leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 11.9 doctors per 10,000 people in Sri Lanka, compared to 2.0 in Benin. Sri Lanka scores 67 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Benin: 38).

What's the weather like in Sri Lanka compared to Benin?

The average high temperature in Colombo is 87°F, compared to None°F in Porto-novo. Colombo receives around 99.4 in of rainfall per year, while Porto-novo gets 47.0 in.

What language do they speak in Sri Lanka?

The official languages in Sri Lanka are Sinhala and Tamil. In Benin, the official language is French.

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At a Glance

BJ LK
Population 13,754,688 23,187,516
Currency CFA Franc BCEAO (F CFA) Sri Lankan Rupee (LKR)
Languages French Sinhala, Tamil
Driving side Right Left
Calling code +229 +94
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 119